A group of civil rights attorneys has filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the transfer of 10 migrants detained in the US to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The lawsuit claims that conditions at the naval base are “a living hell” and that detainees have been subjected to physical and verbal abuse.
The lawyers, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that the transfers violate the men’s right to due process and that the US government has no authority to hold people outside its territory. They claim that Guantanamo Bay is not equipped to handle the transfer of non-Cuban migrants, who are often fleeing persecution or violence in their home countries.
The lawsuit comes after reports emerged that many of those transferred to Guantanamo Bay do not have serious criminal records and were often coerced into admitting crimes while being held at the base. Detainees describe living in small, windowless cells with inadequate food and medical care, and report attempts at self-harm and suicide.
Guantanamo Bay has been a subject of controversy for years, with critics alleging poor conditions and human rights abuses. The US government has denied these claims, but recent reports suggest that the naval base is struggling to accommodate the growing number of migrants being transferred there.
The lawsuit seeks to block the transfer of the 10 men involved in the case, who came to the US between 2023 and 2024. Seven are from Venezuela, while two are from Afghanistan and one is from Pakistan. The lawyers argue that these men were fleeing threats from the Taliban and had been tortured by Venezuelan government officials.
The case raises questions about the treatment of migrants in the US and the conditions at Guantanamo Bay. With thousands more migrants expected to be transferred to the base in the coming months, advocates are warning of a humanitarian crisis.
As the controversy surrounding Guantanamo Bay continues to grow, one thing is clear: the US government’s handling of migrant detention has raised serious concerns about human rights and due process.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/guantanamo-aclu-trump-migrants-2949f003ddfcc26bfacab9fd009be4e1